Fan



Dec. 21, 1943.

J. H. COHEN FAN Fild April 23,

.fn/f mw R. E my m mh n me A lw JY B Patented Dec. 2l, 1943 .f

asians FFICE FAN ll'oseph H. Cohen, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to CascoProducts Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication April 23, 1940, Serial No. 331,097

(,Cl.` 23o-259) i2 Claims.

The device of the present invention has been illustrated as havingrubber or exible blades and particularly adapted to be mounted adjacenta windshield of a motor vehicle for defrosting purposes, but theinvention in its broadest aspects vis not limited to such a constructionand use.

Fans having blades of'rubber or other flexible material have beenproposed heretofore for use as defrosting unitsfor windshields of motorvehicles, but generally these previously proposed 'fans have consistedof a single fan secured to the shaft of the motor mounted contiguous tothe portion of the windshield in front of the drivers position. A fan somounted circulated air against the windshield directly in front of thedriver and maintained visibility through that portion of the Windshield.Such a fan circulated very little-air however, against other portions ofthe Windshield, and, consequently, the drivers vision under adversedriving conditions was limited to that vportion of the windshieldagainst which air was directed.

To obviate this hazard, devices have been proposed in which a pluralityofrelatively adjustable fans, supported by a single bracket or the likeadjacent the windshield, circulated air over pled to a shaft driven by amotor or the like adapted to be adjustably mounted to a support adjacentthe windshield.

` A feature of the present invention is the manner in which theplurality of fans are mounted for relative adjustment, but yet aredriven from a single shaft.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, a motor including ashaft driven thereby is mounted to extend in a substantially verticalposition. The motor shaft carries driving means cooperable with similarmeans carried by a pair of ian shafts, extending radially of the motorshaft, which couple the fan shafts to the motor shaft for rotationtherewith.

Means are provided for flxedly supporting one of said fan shafts on themotor while the other is mounted to and supported by means rotatablymounted on the motor. In one form of the invention herein shown, therotatable support comprises a casing housing thedriving Ameans and iixedsupport. VThe casing and, consequently, the fan shaft carried therebycan be rotatably moved, the fixed fan shaft riding in a slot formed inthe casing, so that the one shaft may be adjusted angularly relative tothe other.

In another form of the invention illustrated, the rotatable supportcomprises a bracket carried by said motor and housed within a casing'nxed to the motor. The casing is provided with a slot within whichtherotatably supported yshaft may ride as it is angularly adjustedrelative to the axis of the motor shaft. To facilitate the adjustment ofthe fan in this form of the invention, a knob is provided which may begrasped by a user when it is desired to change-or adjust the position ofthe ian.

To hold both the rotatably mounted casing and bracket in a desiredposition after once adjusted, resilient means are providedforfrictionally engaging adjacent stationary members to hold the casing orbracket, and, consequently, the fan shaft carried thereby in the desiredadjusted position.

If experience shows that either 'or both fans should be adjusted, thiscan be done by adjusting the motor to position the nxedly supported fanto the proper desired position and then rotating the casing to adjustthe fan carried thereby to the desired proper position.

The driving means are shown, in one form of the invention, as aplurality of properly intermeshing bevel gears carried by the ends ofthe several shafts` The gears, although positively driving the fanshafts `through the motor shaft, permit the rotatably mounted 'fan shaftto'be angularly moved. 'lhejdriving'means may, as shown, also compriseairiction'disk'j on the motor shaftresiliently held in engagement with asimilar disk carried by each fan shaft.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section. a

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. p

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showingl a modified form of the inventionwith part of the motor and fan shafts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line lilof Fig. 3.

As shown inthe accompanying drawing, the present invention comprises amotor It, having a suitable bracket B, including a ball and socketconnection, by Imeans-ofwhich. the motor may lof the windshield in frontof the be mounted to extend in a generally upright position. The motor Ihas a shaft II extending therefrom and carries at the top thereof acasing The motor I0, through shaft II, drives a pair of rubber orflexible bladed fans I3 and Id suitably mounted to the ends of stub Yorfan shafts VI5.

The shaftcarrying the fan I3 is provided with a bearing sleeve I6secured in anangle plate II fastened to the'mto'b'y screws' I8.The'bearing sleeve I6 is inserted through an aperture in the similar tofans I3 and I4 of the form of the invention shown in Figs.. 1 and 2.

The shaft 33, shown at the left in Fig. 3, has a bearing sleeve 34 whichis secured in an angle plate 35 fastened to the motor end by screws 36.The bearing sleeve 34 is inserted through an aperture in the angle plate35 and is secured thereto by a nut 33, there being a spacing washer 31between the angle plate 35 and the nut 38.

The second shaft has a bearing sleeve 33 which Y is secured in an arm 40upwardly extending from angle plate I7 and is secured thereto by aspacing washer I9 and a nut 20. the fan I4 is provided with asimilarbearing sleeve 2l xed in an aperture'fornred in thetca's'- ing I2 by aspacing washer22 and anut`23 The fan shafts I are disposed radiallyof'the'v motor shaft Il, and are provided atftheir ends withbevelled-gears 24A, each meshing with a bevel gear 25 secured to the endof the motor shaft II.

Theycasing I2 isprovide'd with a slot` I 2a, Vto 'allow the casing tobemounted tothe top ofthe motor I0' after thebearing: sleeves; and theirassociated parts' have been assembled; The slot I2a receivesthebearingsleeve I6 when the casing I2, carrying'thebearing sleeve'ZI;is'assernbled with thesmotor I3;` The-casing I2-'is provided withaiflangeZS slidably mounted'on j' the topoLthe motor andy held theretocap' 2`I.-

The bearing sleeve I6 extends through an elongated slot I2b extendingsubstantially at right angles to the slot I2afso that thehousing mayberotated toadiust'the bearing: sleeve 2| andthe fan I4`throughadesiredangle'without interference with the bearing sleeve I6.

To close thel slotI2b against the'intrusionof dirt; etc.,"aid to improvethe appearance ofthe device, 'the'b'earing sleeve Iv'isfprovided with apair of laterally projecting wings' 23 curved to conforrnftotheperiphery` of thecasing I2 and p'errnit` the casing to fsl'ide in backof it. j

An arm 23 is secured to the top Yportieri of the motorA and hasdownwardly projecting resilient portions`30-which engage 'the' innersurface of the casir'igl 2 ytol hold the 'casing'in a desired adjustedposition.

Whenthefan' is t'o'beinstalled on the instrument board of anautomobileadjacentl thefwindshieldfthe bracket isv preferably positionedat a point* midway of 'the'windshield, and the motor' IIJis'lpo'sitioned'sotl'iat the fan I3 is in proper 'position to circulateair over the'portion of the windshield infront of the driver. After thisisdone, theifan; I4 is` adjusted by rotatin'g'the' casing' I2 abouttheaxsA of the' motor, thus moving the shaft I5 for"the ian' I 4V andit's" bearing sleeve` 2 I by a screw to 'such an angular positionrelative 'to tliernotor` I0, that the air' circulatedby ther fan I4 willbe thrown against and properly defrost theportion seat next tothe'driver. n v. l Y

If experience4 shows that either or both fans should be adjusted, thiscan be'done by rotating the motor I0 to adjust the fan I3 to va properposition and then rotating-the casing I2 to adjust the fan I4 to itsproper position. j Y,

There is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, a modified formV of thepresent invention, wherein the motor Illa drives a shaft 3I and carriesa casing 32 fixed thereto byv suitable screws I2C. The' motor Illa. asin the previously described form'rof the'invention, drives a pair ofshafts 33 toiwhich are. to bev secured fans.- notshown,

The shaft carryingaring member 40a slidably mounted on the top of themotor and held thereto by a screw cap 50.

The bearing sleeve 39 is inserted through a suitable aperture in the arm40 and is secured theretoby a spacing washer 4I and a nut 42. The cas- Ying 32 is formed with a pair of slots 32a to the end'that the casing maybe slipped over the end of the motor Ia after the bearing sleeves andtheir'associated parts are assembled.

The shafts 33 are disposed radially of the motor shaft V3I and each areprovided at their inner ends with a bevelled friction disk 43 engaging asimilar shaped friction disk 44 secured tothe endofvthe motor shaft 3I.

To 'insure a good frictional drive, the present invention provides meansfor resiliently` urging the disk'44 intoengagement with the disks 43. Tothis vvend', the disk 44 carries a coaxial sleeve 44a provided Vwith anenlargedbore 45 receiving I a' spring 43 seating'ona' collar '4l-carriedby the shaft 3|; The opposite end of the spring engages an annularinternalshoulder formed by the' enlarged bore 45j and'normallyurges thesleeve '44a outwardlyof'the shaft and the disk 44 into good Vfrictit'malYengagement Vwith thev disks 432 l To couple the sleeve 44a to the shaft3I` for rotation `therewith,'but yet allow axial movement -of the sleeve44a, with respect to the'sh'aft 3|, a pin 48,' diametricallycarried'b'y'an end of the shaft 3|, -ha's theopposite' ends thereofAdisposed in grooves' 49 formed 'in the Arestricted bore of the sleeve44. The pin 48-keys` the'sleeve '44a tothe shaft'SIforrotation'therewith; but yet allows the sleeve 44a and thefdisk '44movement longitudinally of the shaft 3l,

The bearing-sleeve 35i-extends through an elongate slot`32b formed inthe`casing-32 so that the bearing' sleeve 39 mightfbe angularly'adjusted withre'spect to the-bearing' sleeve 34.

Y To facilitateadjustrnent o f theV bearing sleeve 33, the same isprovided with an arm 5I lying without the casing 32 and terminating atthe top ofthe casing in aV knob or handle`52 which may be grasped by theuser to angularly adjustl the bearing sleeve 39. y v

Tor hold the bearing sleeve39 in a desiredv adjustedv position, aresilient finger 53 carried by the armSI frictionallyengagesj the outersurface of the casing32' and holds the arm 5'I` and sleeve 39 in thedesired adjusted position.

. When the fan of this embodiment ofthe presentinvention is lto beinstalled on the instrument panel; the bracket, not shown, is'securedadjacent the windshield'a'gain preferably ata pointmidway-of the same.The motor Illa, is adjusted so that the same extends in a substantiallyvertical position with the left-hand fan disposed so as to circulate airover the portion ofthe windshield in front ofthe driver. The right-handfan is then adjusted by grasping the knob 52 and moving the same so asto position the right-hand fan to direct Vlair againstv that portion ofthe Windshield infront ofthe `seat nextto the driver.

Variations andmodications may be made within the scope of this inventionand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

i.A In a device of the type described, a pair of shafts; a fan securedto an end of each shaft; a motorincluding a shaft driven thereby; meansfor coupling the fan shafts to said motor shaft for rotation therewith;means fixed to said motor for supporting one of said fan shafts; and aeasing having a slot therein throughv which the fixedlyV supported fanshaft extends, said casing being rotatably secured to said motor andsupporting the other of said fan shafts, whereby theorie shaft may ceadjusted relative to the other.

2. In a device of the type described, a pair of shafts; a fan secured toan end of each shaft; a motor including a shaft driven thereby; meansfor coupling the fan shafts to said motor shaft for rotation therewith;means fixed to said motor for supporting one of said fan shafts; and acasing having a siot formed therein through which said last-named shaftextends, said casing housing said supporting coupling means and beingrotatably secured to said motor for `opporting the other of said fanshafts, the last-named shaft being movable to different angularpositions relative to said xed shafts upon rotation of said casing.

3. In a device of the type described, a pair of shafts; a fan secured toan end of each shaft; a motor including a shaft driven thereby; meansfor coupling the fan shafts to said motor shaft for rotation therewith;means fixed to said motor for supporting one of said fan shafts; and aoasing rotatably secured to said motor for supporting the other of saidfan shafts, said casing hav-l ing a slot through which the hxedlysupported shaft projects, whereby the casing may be rotated to angularlyadjust the relative positions o-f said fan shafts.

4. In a device of the type described, a pair of angularly disposedshafts; a fan secured to an end of each shaft; a motor including a shaftdriven thereby; means for coupling the fan shafts to said motor shaftfor rotation therewith; means fixed to said motor for rigidly supportingone of said fan shafts; means, rotatably secured to said motor, forsupporting the other of said fan shafts for angular movement relative tosaid motor shaft; and a casing secured to said motor, said casinghousing the driving means said fan shaft supporting means, theadjustabiy supported fan shaft riding in a slot formed in said casingbeing angularly adjustable with respeot to the other of said fan shafts.

5. In a device of the type described, a pair of angularly disposedshafts; a fan secured to an end of each shaft; a motor including a shaftdriven thereby; means for coupling the fan shafts to said motor shaftfor rotation therewith; means fixed to said motor for rigidly supportingone of said fan shafts; means rotatably secured to said motor,supporting the other of said fan shafts for angular movement relative tosaid motor shaft; a casing secured to motor, said casing housing thedriving roe and said fan shaft supporting means, the djustably supportedfan shaft riding in a slot i med in said ca and being angularlyadjustable with respect to the other .id fan shafts; manually operablemeans lying Without said casing for adjusting the angular position ofsaid adjustable shaft relative to the other.

' 6. In a device of the type described, a motor including a shaft driventhereby; a pair of shafts radially extending about said motor shaft; afan secured to the outer end of each radially extending shaft; means forcoupling the fan shafts to said motor shaft for rotation therewith; a`bearing sleeve disposed about each fan shaft; a bracket fixed to saidmotor for receiving and supporting one of said bearing sleeves; and acasing rotatably secured to said motor for supporting the other of saidbearing sleeves, said casing having a slot through which said fixedlysupported bearing sleeve extends to allow said casing to be rotated sothat the fan supported thereby may be adjusted relative to the fixedlysupported fan.

7. In a device of the type described, a motor including a shaft driventhereby; a casing rotatably secured to said motor and housing the end ofsaid shaft, said casing provided with a pair of apertures; a pair of fanshafts each projecting through an aperture; means for coupling the fanshafts to said motor shaft for rotation therewith; and means xed to saidmotor for supporting one of said fan shafts, the other of said fanshafts being supported by said casing, the aperture through which saidfixedly supported fan shaft extends comprising an elongate slot, theslot permitting the casing and the shaft supported thereby a limitedangular movement relative to said fixedly supported shaft.

3. In a device of the type described, a motor including a shaft driventhereby; a pair of fan shafts radially extending from said motor shaft;driving means interposed between the motor shaft and the fan shafts; acasing rotatably secured to said motor, said casing provided with anaperture therethrough and an elongate slot, one of said fan shaftsextending through said aperture, the other extending through said slot;and means xed to said motor for supporting the fan shaft extendingthrough said slot, the fan shaft extending through said aperture beingsupported by said casing for movement therewith, whereby said shaft rnaybe angularly adjusted relative to the other of said fan shafts.

9. In a device of the type described, a motor including a shaft driventhereby; a pair of shafts radially extending about said motor shaft; afan secured to the outer end of each radially extending shaft; means forcoupling the fan shafts to said motor shaft for rotation therewith; abear-f ing sleeve disposed about each fan shaft; a bracket xed to saidmotor for receiving and supporting one of said bearing sleeves; a casingrotatably secured to said motor for supporting the other of said bearingsleeves, said casing having a slot through which said xedly supportedbearing sleeve extends to allow said casing to be rotated so that thefan shaft supported thereby may be adjusted relative to the fixedlysupported fan shaft; and projections carried by said xedly supportedbearing sleeve engaging the outer surface of said casing and coveringsaid slot in all adjusted positions of said casing.

10. In a device of the type described, a motor including a shaft driventhereby; a pair of angularly disposed fan shafts radially extendingfroman end of said motor shaft; means for coupling the fan shafts tosaid motor shaft for rotation therewith; a bracket carried by said motorfor rigidly supporting one of said fan shafts; a. bracket rotatablysecured to said motor supporting the other of said fan shafts; a casingfixed to said housing, the fan shafts projecting through a wall of saidcasing, said casing being formed with a slot through whichsaid'rotatablysupportedshaft extends; and manuallyoperablemeans foradjusting thevposition Yof said' rotatably supported fan shaft relativetothe slot sorthat said shaft may be moved to different angularpositions relative to the other fan shaft.`

11. In a device lof the type described, a.rnotor including a shaftdriven thereby; a pair of fan shafts radially extending about saidmotor. shaft; a fan secured to the outer end of each radially extendingshaft; means for coupling the fan shafts to vsaid motor shaft forrotation therewith; abearing sleeve disposed about each fan shaft; abracket xed to said motor for rigidly supporting one of `said bearingsleeves; a bracket rotatably secured to said motor for supporting theother of said bearingsleeves; a casing housingl said coupling means andbrackets, said casing beingl fixed to said motor and having a slotthrough which Ssaid rotatablysupported bearing 20 relative angular.position between the.y fan shafts can be adjusted;` andmanually'operable means xed to said rotatably supported sleeve foradjusting the position of said sleeve.

12. Ina device ofthe type described having a motor including a shaftdriven thereby and a pair of angularly disposed shafts each providedwith a fan; means for drivingly connecting said motor shaft andr fanshafts comprising of a friction disk coaxially carried by said motorshaft; a friction disk carried by each of said fan shafts; acoaxialsleeve carriedby said first-named disk, said sleevebeing formed with anenlarged bore;

'a spring disposed aboutfsaid motor shaft and housed within saidenlarged bore; and means carried by said motor shaft for seating one endof said spring, the other end of said spring engaging a shoulder. formedby said enlarged bore and `urging the sleevefoutwardly of saidmotorshaft and the disk Y into *goodv frictional engagement with the diskscarried by said fan shafts.

JOSEPH H. COHEN.

